Flynt might join her one day because he’s a celebrated author himself, but, for now, he’s trying his best to lambast those who have been taking unfair potshots at a legend unable to fire back.

Harper Lee is the author of "To Kill a Mockingbird."(Photo: Rob Carr/AP)

“I never dreamed in a thousand years that I would write this book if not for the persistent rumors of some people that (Lee) was demented and totally incapable of giving informed consent on anything,” Flynt said.

His comment during an interview Thursday followed an appearance at the Selma-Dallas County Public Library, where he discussed his latest book: “Mockingbird Songs: My Friendship with Harper Lee.”

Joining him was Nancy Anderson, a fine writer in her own right who took part in a give-and-take wordy repartee about a book that has already sold thousands of copies since its release earlier this year.

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The courtroom at the Old Monroe County Courthouse in Monroeville, Ala. on Friday February 19, 2016. Harper Lee died on FridayFebruary 19, 2016
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Flynt heard about rumors being spread by those who obviously have their own reasons for degrading Lee and he was fit to be tied over them.

“I was furious when I began to hear them,” said Flynt, an author and history professor with enough awards to cover several walls at his house. “I wrote this to put a final and complete end to the conspiracy theories.”

He detailed some of those “theories,” including alleged “manipulation” of Lee, who died at the age of 89 last year, claims that she was not of sound mind and could not have acted on her own behalf.

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Displays at the Old Monroe County Courthouse in Monroeville, Ala. on Friday February 19, 2016. Harper Lee died on FridayFebruary 19, 2016
(Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)

As is often the case when millions of dollars are at stake over publication rights, copyrights and other legal matters, it seems the latest “Mockingbird” book may wind up in lawyer limbo.

Disputes such as those surrounding an independent woman who was known for salty language at times shouldn’t affect her place in history.

Millions of “Mockingbird” books have been sold since the first copy was bought more than half a century ago. There’s just no way she‘ll ever be evicted from a front row seat next to other word giants.

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Someone placed tulips on a statue of a child reading To Kill a Mockingbird beside the Old Monroe County Courthouse in Monroeville, Ala. on Friday February 19, 2016. Harper Lee died on Friday February 19, 2016(Photo: Mickey Welsh / Advertiser)

In the meantime, those who were at Flynt’s library appearance a few days ago were in for a real treat that few apparently had expected.

Instead of authors reciting boring word for word excerpts from books, Flynt and Anderson took turns reading them while the audience devoured each one.

Those who have seen “Love Letters” at the Shakespeare Festival might tend to view their performance as a delightful comparison, but the animation provided by Flynt and Anderson was still something to behold.

“I think what we did was a wonderful way of presenting these letters far better than a talking head coming out and reading from their book,” said Flynt, during the post-reading interview.

It might be appropriate at this point to mention a bit of relevance. “Mockingbird Songs” is a book that’s basically a series of hand-written letters penned by Flynt, Lee and friends over many years.

The letters are far from earth-shaking and that’s what makes them so entertaining, especially one written from Flynt to Lee on April 14, 2009.

“Dear Nelle,” he begins, “I celebrated income tax day by watching ‘Gone With the Wind’ on Turner Movie classics…I believe the book was written by one of those ‘One Book’ southern writers.”

Harper Lee, author of "To Kill a Mockingbird," receiving the 2007 Presidential Medal of Freedom in the White House on Nov. 5, 2007.(Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

He also tells Lee in his letter that “the last time I checked, you were outselling her two to one, but then your South is a lot more convincing than hers was.”

It was a not-so-gentle dig at Margaret Mitchell, of course, but, in my humble opinion, if “Mockingbird” and “Wind” are stacked side by side, Lee’s classic will win in a walk.

Nelle and I would exchange waves and comments through the years and when I sought a blurb for my autobio in 2006 she was gracious to oblige.

“Please use any or all of the following as you see fit,” she wrote after providing a very nice endorsement for: REPORTER: Covering Civil Rights And Wrongs In Dixie.”

She concluded with: “I have cataract surgery next month. Hope you can read this.”

On another occasion, I met her under the Capitol Dome in Montgomery, where she had nominated Selma author and storyteller Kathryn Tucker Windham for membership in the Alabama Academy of Honor. She was there to help induct Kathryn.

I had retired from full-time writing by then and when she saw me she rushed up, eyes ablaze with manufactured anger and said: “You retired you (beep).”

Then she walked away with a smile on her face. I was laughing, too. It’s not every day a legendary author calls you a “(Beep).”

Her choice of words stared with a “B.”

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People at Books-A-Million in Montgomery share their reactions to Harper Lee's death.
Brad Harper